Photograph supplied courtesy of the University of South Australia, South Australia

Known as the Festival State, South Australia hosts a range of international car races, golf tournaments, cycling tours, and more. The music festival WOMADelaide is held centrally each year, featuring musicians from around the world, a not-to-be-missed event.

Just 20 minutes from the city are the Adelaide Hills, an excellent destination for a day or weekend trip. The area is known as ‘Adelaide’s pantry’, with a wide range of fresh produce available including fresh fruits and cheeses. You can visit the market gardens which are dotted around the hills, inbetween areas of scenic Australian bushland.

North of Adelaide is the Barossa Valley, which produces over half of Australia’s wines. A large number of German immigrants settled in this area originally and this fascinating history can be explored through the local museum, the architecture and the food on offer. Apart from having an expansive array of wineries for you to visit there are also a wide range of other attractions such as the Whispering Wall - where you can stand at one end of the wall and hear even a whisper from the other end, some 140 metres away. The wall itself borders a reservoir and is set in a scenic location perfect for a picnic or a barbeque.

Photograph supplied courtesy of the University of South Australia, South Australia

Another famed export of South Australia is its opals. The largest opal supply town is Cooper Pedy, which is a fascinating place to visit, not just for the insight it provides into opal mining and the chance to buy opals direct from the source, but for its unique living arrangements. Due to the heat of the area many residents have built their homes underground. There are examples of this unique form of architecture open for display or you can choose to stay in the underground accommodation available.

Another outback attraction of South Australia is the Flinders Ranges. Apart from the wide range of native wildlife that can be seen here they also provide a unique example of the rugged beauty that is outback Australia. There are three national parks in the area making it easily accessible. You can also visit the last example of active volcanic activity in Australia at the Paralana Hot Springs, where near boiling water flows out of the ground.

For more opportunities to observe Australian wildlife you could visit Kangaroo Island. Thirty percent of the island is designated national park which, combined with the island’s isolation and limited development, have ensured an area with a wide abundance of nature on display, including animals, and native Australian plants and wildflowers.

The South Australia coastline contends with the other state’s beach attractions for the mantle of the most stunning coast scenery. Two well known locations are the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula, both of which offer a water wonderland of fantastic sights and the opportunity to view sea life.